Click on a state above to see their policies around sex ed!
The goal of sexuality education is to promote sexual health, but how we achieve that remains a point of contention. Some believe that medically accurate and comprehensive information about sexuality decreases risk-taking behaviors among adolescents (a stance that has been supported by research) while others believe that such information will increase those same behaviors.
At this time, the federal government provides support to both abstinence-only education programs and medically accurate, evidence-based programs. Individual states, districts, and school boards determine the implementation of these funds.
It can be difficult to track what’s happening with sex ed on a district-by-district basis, but if you’re interested in learning more about the sexuality education policies in your state, click the map above! In addition to your state’s sex ed policies at a glance, most state pages also list out a handful of local sex ed advocacy organizations. If you’d like to nominate additional organizations for inclusion on the site, drop me a message through my contact form!
Sources: Kick-ass organizations like SIECUS, the Guttmacher Institute, and Answer track sex-ed policy changes. I’ll be referring to their regular reports in order to ensure that the state-by-state information here remains updated. Each state’s page also links back to SIECUS so you can get a more in-depth look at the legislation that’s in play. And for a quick state-by-state comparison of general sex ed requirements, the Guttmacher Institute has got you covered.